John Henry's Story.
John Henry Alldis was born in Birkenhead, in 1889, the son of John Alldis and Henrietta Alldis. His father was a very well-known Stone Mason in Birkenhead, and had been born in Heswall, Wirral, in 1862. His mother had been born in Birkenhead, in 1869. The couple married in the late 1880’s and went on to have 7 children: John H. Alldis (born in 1889); Joseph Alldis (born in 1891); William Alldis (born in 1892); Gilbert Alldis (born in 1895); Edward Alldis (born in 1897); Henrietta Alldis (born in 1899); and Annie Alldis (born in 1900). In 1901, th Alldis family were living at 8, Moreton Street, Birkenhead. In 1910/1911, John Henry Alldis had carried on his father’s business as a Monumental Stone Mason in a property next door to his father’s house, at 10, Moreton Street, Birkenhead, and had married. He lived with his wife, Catherine, and between 1911 – 1917, had three children. Between October 1917 – February 1923, Catherine died.
In September 1916, John Henry Alldis enlisted as a Gunner into the Royal Field Artillery. He was seriously wounded by a trench mortar bomb and died as a result of his wounds on 12th October 1917. His medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
Gunner Alldis was buried in Plot 4, Row D, Grave 6, Nine Elms Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium.
John Henry Alldis is commemorated on a white marble memorial tablet which used to be in St. Laurence’s Roman Catholic Church (which was demolished in 1995), and is now re-located to St. Laurence’s Parish Centre, Claughton Road, Birkenhead.
Family application form requesting John to be added to the Birkenhead War Memorial.
He had three brothers who served: Joseph Alldis served in France, with a battalion of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry; William Alldis served with the Army Service Corps in France; and Gilbert Alldis, who also served with the Army Service Corps, was stationed in Salonika.
Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.
The Birkenhead News reported the death of John.
Birkenhead News 24 November 1917.
Died of Wounds.
Mrs. Alldis, 10, Moreton Street, Birkenhead, has received official intimation of the death of her husband, Gunner J. H. Alldis, R.F.A., who died of wounds received in action in France, Oct. 12th, 1917. Before joining up Gunner Alldis carried on the business of monumental mason at 8, Moreton Street, where his father carried on the same business for many years. Mrs. Alldis, senior, has three more sons all on active service – Joseph with the Shropshire Light Infantry; William with the Motor Transport, France; and Gilbert with the Army Service Corps, Salonika. Gunner Alldis, the elder of the family, leaves a widow and three young children.
Added by Chris Booth